Higher

The Red Stag had its first block party tonight, complete with bands, food, drink, and enough people watching to rival the Minnesota State Fair! They also had a skateboarding competition. This kid was incredible and in the perfect spot to capture his silhouette against the setting sun.

Pizza Pick Up

                                                           Late night snack to go.

Skyscraper

As you can see by my latest photos, I'm really into playing with light right now. I shot this at about 11:00 tonight. I set up and got this, then all the lights on the building shut off. This is the only one I took. It works.

Daylillies

I took a grand total of 2 photos today and this one is the best. Is it just me, or do these wet petals look like a bunch of Slip-n-Slides?

Shadows and Light

There's so much to look at it kind of makes me giddy! This shot was taken on the pedestrian bridge above the 94 tunnel and Hennepin Avenue tonight. I waited until it was dark enough to create the shadows and went for a long exposure to get the light streaks from the cars below. Off in the distance you can see a group of people walking away and the light from a bike coming towards me.

University Ave

I was stopped at a red light in the middle of road construction this afternoon when I looked out the window and saw this mirrored building reflecting back these smaller buildings. It reminded me of a fun house mirror. Colorful and distorted.  Kind of describes yours truly.
What can I say? I like it.

City Island

I went to the General Mills campus last week to get some shots of this building, but I ended up going with another photo, so tonight I went back and captured this! Glass and light enveloped in nature. Striking. If I do say so myself.

Wine To Be

We have grapes! We will have wine! This shot was taken in my own backyard, where the grapevines are going nuts!  I've always wanted to try my hand at wine making.  I'll keep you posted.

Aquatennial Lightning

Tonight marks the 9 year anniversary of my first date with my husband - the Aquatennial fireworks. We set up on the Mill City bridge and waited. About 20 minutes before showtime the lightning started. Then the gail force winds. Then the downpour of rain! We stayed through the whole spectacular show!

This photo was taken when the lightning was starting and I caught it!

Perfect Evening

This simple picture is Summer to me. My family went to the lake for a swim tonight just as the sun was setting, and this was left behind by someone before we got there. I took a few shots as it floated towards the shore and then darkened the edges a bit to really frame the raft.

Cosmic Sprinkles

These are the little candy sprinkles that we decorate cookies and cupcakes with. They stick on anything, so I asked Taylor to be a hand model for me, and I played with the zoom as I pressed the shutter.  This is what I got.  SWEET.

Sculpture

This is some sort of cool rock sculpture on the General Mills grounds. It was very dark outside when I took this tonight, but I tried a long exposure and not only picked up the purples in the sky, but the stars!! I am very impressed with the outcome.

Shrooms

It is hot and it is wet. Mushrooms are cropping up everywhere. I shot this with my macro lens in my front yard today. Check out Mr. Shriveled in the right hand corner. A delicacy - or a death sentence? You be the judge.

Bee On The Move

                                        Check out the wing movement of this bee!

Dewpoint

At first glance, this isn't the greatest photo as far as subject or quality, but you might feel differently when I tell you this is unretouched in any way. This is a shot of girls playing a soccer game tonight in 90 percent humidity! This is how my eye saw it. 10:00pm. 85 degrees.

I don't remember ever experiencing this in Minnesota before. All of the store and house windows are fogged up. Even my car windshield was fogged up - and all of the windows were open! It's weird. And super cool.

Pizza

When all else fails, take a picture of food! Now you know why I needed the disclaimer. I was out late at the 2nd annual Dakota Fest listening to some great music. I took lots of photos, but they were absolutely all garbage! This isn't even my pizza - it was on the counter when I got home. It works.

Disclaimer:

Now that we are in what I call "The guts of Summer",  I have made a new rule for my blog.  Being a late  night creature with so much fun to fit into the hot days and nights that are upon us, I have decided that I can no longer abide by a midnight deadline for my photo of the day.  I will still carry my camera with me everywhere and still take and post a photo a day, but I need a little more time to enjoy at night, instead of running home to post before I turn into a pumpkin!!

Please bear with me. Hopefully there will be better shots to choose from!

Royals Win

 Went to a Twins game tonight.  They lost.  Royals won.  I took about 100 shots, but had to hurry and make my midnight deadline, so this about sums it up.  It was a perfect night for an outdoor ballgame.

psychedelic

This is the back of a CD that my water bottle dripped on. I saw the colors and the reflection of my living room windows in the drops and grabbed old trusty (My Camera). I took about 40 shots, using different angles and more water drops, but this one was my second try!

Pretty as a Picture

I was at Como Zoo today for the second day in a row, and no animal posts!   This is just a great scene.  I like the bright sun on the wild flowers, the shadows by the water wheel, and the feel of yesteryear.

I could probably sell this to a puzzle company!

Lily Pink

I'm no expert, but I've never seen a pink lily pad in my life! Not only do I love the photo, but I'm still astounded that it's anything but creamy white!

Shopper's Shadow

I spent the better part of the day at Lego Land and took lots of shots of my nephew with all of the Lego figures, but thought many of you would like to see something besides family snapshots! This photo isn't nearly as cute, but I liked it nonetheless.

Waaaay Up There

I previously posted a photo and wrote about Wade, my squirrel friend. This is his home.  I was looking for him to come out and play tonight and realized his home is quite beautiful, so I started shooting. He's up there looking down at me I'm sure.

Flower Nap

You've heard of a power nap?   It was 1:00 in the afternoon and about 90 degrees, so the hat and sweatshirt this woman has on makes her a few minutes away from a heat stroke, and yes - she's having a little nap right there in the sun - with a smirk on her face!

Crystal Cove

Another Summer day, another water park! This is Joshua taking the "Nestea plunge" into the pool. I love the color of the water and his shadow in the corner. 5 days left of his visit - we're packing in all the fun before Wednesday!

Concrete Life

My nephew said to me "Why are you taking a picture of weeds?" Because, Joshua, you never know what's going to make it on the blog at the end of the day! It may not be my most creative shot, but it was the best one I had today.

A side note for my post last night: I was out late with a friend drinking strawberry jalapeno margaritas and time got away from me (as you can imagine.) I rushed home to blog and was in the middle of posting "Dolly" when the clock struck midnight! Ooops! No comments - only Dolly.

Dolly

The Look

I took this in downtown Wayzata tonight. I saw the train going by and as soon as I put my finger on the shutter this little girl turned around and glared at me. I love how classic she looks with the patent leather heals and the handbag. It's one of those shots that you have no idea what year the photo was taken, which I love.

Fireworks

                       This is overlooking the river in Minneapolis tonight. Happy 4th of July!!

Red White & Blue in Black and White

On the eve of Independence Day, I thought this shot of flags hanging from the roof of a liquor store very fitting.

Constant Companions

These are Russano's Crocs. They have taken him everywhere for the last three Summers and show no sign of being abandoned at this point. He left them by the patio door tonight to let his feet out for awhile and I took a few shots.

Simple, but Summerlike!

The Boys of Summer

This should be a poster for Summertime! This is my friend's son and my nephew on lunch break at the water park today. They are 2 months apart in age and were trying to prove who was taller! Precious!